The Bossier Arts Council is dedicated to fostering, promoting, supporting and providing cultural events and arts programming of the highest quality for Bossier Parish. The Bossier Arts Council emphasizes this mission by: focusing on the growth and education of artists and arts organizations, enhancing the quality of life for Bossier citizens and developing a cultural identity for Bossier.

Search This Blog

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

BAC'S Gallery Fine Art Center Presents The Art of Steve zihlavsky

BAC's Gallery Fine Art Center presents the art of Julie Crews, John Wagoner and Steve Zihlavsky. The Show will be from February 1-April 30 with an opening reception on February 25, 5:30-7:30 at 2151 Airline Drive, suite 1200, Bossier City, Louisiana. The gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday 12:00-5:00pm.About Steve:

﻿

Stained Paper Towel Window

Travels in his youth between
his birthplace in California, his parents birthplace in Michigan, and where the
family eventually settled in Louisiana gave plenty of scenic inspiration to
Steve Zihlavsky as a child, especially the great many state and national parks
he visited; Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Redwood, Seguaro,
Sequoia, Yellowstone, and Yosemite to name a few as of age four. Although a
creations' natural beauty is among his favorite expressions in art, he knew he
could never improve on perfection, and so, leans toward the expression of
thought and quirks unusual in much of his work.

Music and art were always
commonplace in the Zihlavsky home, both parents playing multiple instruments,
singing and a variety of artistic talents as well. Art was encouraged at an
early age, but each of the children were allowed to express themselves however
they chose. Being poor allowed only so much in the way of artistic supplies,
this is where Steve excelled in creativity and ingenuity. Paper, cardboard,
glue, pencils, crayons and the like were always readily available, and, he made
the most of them, as well anything else he could repurpose. The late Mrs.
Virginia Strahan, Steves' 7th grade art teacher was likely the most
influential force in his youth, as she inspired him and educated him in
numerous genres of art, and even unbeknownst to him, submitted his art in a
contest at the local library which, after winning several 1st and 2nd
place ribbons, gave him the goad to continue pursuing his passion.

Emerging to the professional
art scene, Steve has only participated in regional (Northwest Louisiana) art
shows and events such as Artini with the Bossier Arts Council, the Fine Arts
Market on the Bossier Boardwalk, Art Walk at Villaggio, and the Spring Arts
Festival in Minden, LA. He has produced and collaborated on several murals in
private homes, and as contract labor with Alice Bahler on the Tourist Bureau
Welcome Center mural in downtown Shreveport, LA.

Recently his art was part of
'Bona Fide 2' and 'Critical Mass' at ArtsSpace in Shreveport, Louisiana, and
for the grand opening of Central Art Station, the new home of Shreveport
Regional Arts Council. Private collections account for most of his sales, but
much more can be seen on his facebook page: Steve Zihlavsky – Artist.

In Steve's own words:

"I make things.

It can be a crystal clear
vision that inspires or an incendiary desire to make without any idea where to
start, be complete in a day, or take months, years, decades to find the end.
Each of my creations are cared for as a child, including getting occasional
bumps, bruises, and discipline and, just the right attention. I put no date on
most anymore, for so many of them gestate for lengths of time unknown, and I do
not recall when the inception began.

I almost exclusively use
found items, job site refuse, trash and reclaimed materials, partly to keep
such out of the landfills, but mostly because I see the continued usefulness of
them to pretty up the world we live in. It is a lot more labor using these
materials than pristine items from the art store, but gives me hope that even
the worst of who we are and what we make on this planet can be improved on,
rejuvenated, and maximized. Our disposable society may see little or no use for
what it chucks to the curb but, if possible, I and artists like myself hope to
change that.

I'm not attempting to make a
statement with my art – there is no political or environmental agenda – but I
do want people to know what it is they discard, often, has great potential,
especially in the wasteful world we live in. I leave the mill marks and rust on
reclaimed wood and metal or, otherwise allow the obviously discarded character
of my materials to shine through with its' own beauty or story. This is one of
many facets of my art and why I make it using the materials I do.

There is no end to that
which inspires me and, until I'm out of my mind or breath, I'll continue with
the making of things." -Steve Zihlavsky

The Gallery Fine Art Center is a project of the Bossier Arts Council and is made possible through the generous contributions of Meredith Hamrick, Ken and Sharon McGivney, Marcy Everett and the Airline Plaza. For more information on these artists, the Bossier Arts Council and the Gallery Fine Art Center please call (318) 741-8310 or check out out website, www.bossierarts.org

Supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Louisiana State Arts Council, and the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.